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78 Motivational Quotes By Shel Silverstein That Are Sure To Light Your Path

Famous As: Poet
Born On: September 25, 1930
Died On: May 10, 1999
Born In: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died At Age: 68
Sheldon Allen Silverstein, popularly known by his pen name Shel Silverstein, was an American children’s book writer, poet, cartoonist, screenwriter and a singer. He went on to become one of the most popular children’s story book writers of all time. Silverstein had been an avid cartoonist since his childhood and had reiterated in interviews that since he struggled with sports; making cartoon strips was his favorite activity. His work was published by several well known magazines and in 1955 he had his first big break when his cartoon collection ‘Take Ten’ was published. He also worked as a cartoonist for many years for the hugely popular men’s magazine ‘Playboy’ and worked on global stories for the magazine. He started off as a children’s book writer a bit late but soon became a hugely successful one and his books became instant hit across the globe with sales running into millions. Some of his well-known works include, ‘A Boy Named Sue’, ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’ and ‘The Giving Tree’ among many others. He was also an accomplished songwriter and singer and had won two ‘Grammy Awards’. He was a man of rare gifts, with a pithy sense of humor. Much of what he has said or written has become quite famous as his quotes and thoughts and is quoted extensively. His thoughts and quotations tackled the most serious and sensitive topics in a lighter tone. Here are few of Shel Silverstein’s notable quotes.
Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.

Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.

Shel Silverstein
There are no happy endings.
Endings are the saddest part, 
So just give me a happy middle
And a very happy start.

There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part, So just give me a happy middle And a very happy start.

Shel Silverstein
If you are a dreamer come in
If you are a dreamer a wisher a liar
A hoper a pray-er a magic-bean-buyer
If youre a pretender com sit by my fire
For we have some flax golden tales to spin
Come in! 
Come in!

If you are a dreamer come in If you are a dreamer a wisher a liar A hoper a pray-er a magic-bean-buyer If youre a pretender com sit by my fire For we have some flax golden tales to spin Come in! Come in!

Shel Silverstein
Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy.

Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy.

Shel Silverstein
Do a loony-goony dance 
'Cross the kitchen floor, 
Put something silly in the world 
That ain't been there before.

Do a loony-goony dance 'Cross the kitchen floor, Put something silly in the world That ain't been there before.

Shel Silverstein
She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by-
And never knew.

She had blue skin, And so did he. He kept it hid And so did she. They searched for blue Their whole life through, Then passed right by- And never knew.

Shel Silverstein
All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' In The Sun,
Talkin' 'Bout The Things
They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done...
But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All Ran Away And Hid
From One Little Did.

All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas Layin' In The Sun, Talkin' 'Bout The Things They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done... But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas All Ran Away And Hid From One Little Did.

Shel Silverstein
Tell my I'm clever,
Tell me I'm kind,
Tell me I'm talented,
Tell me I'm cute,
Tell me I'm sensitive,
Graceful and Wise
Tell me I'm perfect--
But tell me the TRUTH.

Tell my I'm clever, Tell me I'm kind, Tell me I'm talented, Tell me I'm cute, Tell me I'm sensitive, Graceful and Wise Tell me I'm perfect-- But tell me the TRUTH.

Shel Silverstein
Underneath my outside face
There's a face that none can see.
A little less smiley,
A little less sure,
But a whole lot more like me.

Underneath my outside face There's a face that none can see. A little less smiley, A little less sure, But a whole lot more like me.

Shel Silverstein
When the light turns green, you go. When the light turns red, you stop. But what do you do when the light turns blue with orange and lavender spots?

When the light turns green, you go. When the light turns red, you stop. But what do you do when the light turns blue with orange and lavender spots?

Shel Silverstein
EARLY BIRD
Oh, if you’re a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you’re a bird, be an early early bird--
But if you’re a worm, sleep late.

EARLY BIRD Oh, if you’re a bird, be an early bird And catch the worm for your breakfast plate. If you’re a bird, be an early early bird-- But if you’re a worm, sleep late.

Shel Silverstein
Anything is possible. Anything can be.

Anything is possible. Anything can be.

Shel Silverstein
I know a way to stay friends forever,
There's really nothing to it,
I tell you what to do,
And you do it.

I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it.

Shel Silverstein
... and she loved a boy very, very much-- even more than she loved herself.

... and she loved a boy very, very much-- even more than she loved herself.

Shel Silverstein
The baby bat
Screamed out in fright,
'Turn on the dark,
I'm afraid of the light.

The baby bat Screamed out in fright, 'Turn on the dark, I'm afraid of the light.

Shel Silverstein
So I'm all of love that could make it today.

So I'm all of love that could make it today.

Shel Silverstein
If there is a book you want to read but isn`t written yet,write it.

If there is a book you want to read but isn`t written yet,write it.

Shel Silverstein
...I am writing these poems from inside a lion...

...I am writing these poems from inside a lion...

Shel Silverstein
And all the colors I am inside have not been invented yet.

And all the colors I am inside have not been invented yet.

Shel Silverstein
Everything isn't everything

Everything isn't everything

Shel Silverstein
If you are a dreamer come in

If you are a dreamer come in

Shel Silverstein
So what if nobody came? 
I’ll have all the ice cream and tea, 
And I’ll laugh with myself, 
And I’ll dance with myself, 
And I’ll sing, “Happy Birthday to me!

So what if nobody came? I’ll have all the ice cream and tea, And I’ll laugh with myself, And I’ll dance with myself, And I’ll sing, “Happy Birthday to me!

Shel Silverstein
And the tree was happy

And the tree was happy

Shel Silverstein
If the track is tough and the hill is rough,
THINKING you can just ain't enough!

If the track is tough and the hill is rough, THINKING you can just ain't enough!

Shel Silverstein
Would you like to hear
the night
i bravely fought the-
no?
alright

Would you like to hear the night i bravely fought the- no? alright

Shel Silverstein
And he didn't really know where he was going, but he did know he was going somewhere, because you really have to go somewhere, don't you?

And he didn't really know where he was going, but he did know he was going somewhere, because you really have to go somewhere, don't you?

Shel Silverstein
Talked my head off
Worked my tail off
Cried my eyes out
Walked my feet off
Sang my heat out
So you see, 
There's really not much left of me.

Talked my head off Worked my tail off Cried my eyes out Walked my feet off Sang my heat out So you see, There's really not much left of me.

Shel Silverstein
My beard grows down to my toes,
I never wears no clothes,
I wraps my hair
Around my bare,
And down the road I goes.

My beard grows down to my toes, I never wears no clothes, I wraps my hair Around my bare, And down the road I goes.

Shel Silverstein
Although I cannot see your face
As you flip these poems awhile,
Somewhere from some far-off place
I hear you laughing--and I smile.

Although I cannot see your face As you flip these poems awhile, Somewhere from some far-off place I hear you laughing--and I smile.

Shel Silverstein
I've found my missin' piece So grease my knees and fleece my bees I've found my missin' piece!

I've found my missin' piece So grease my knees and fleece my bees I've found my missin' piece!

Shel Silverstein